Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A-10 Afghanistan Combat Summary for October 2009

by Joachim Jacob

From the "Airpower Summaries", released on USAF's public main website, for October 2009 I extracted and edited all available info related to A-10 Thunderbolt II combat missions in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). The mostly daily airpower summaries for OEF and OIF are provided by Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC) officials at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. According to the sources, all of the listed missions were confirmed successful by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs).

Oct 1: A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were in the vicinity of Chahar Bagh, providing armed overwatch for friendly ground forces and a convoy when the friendly ground forces reported receiving enemy small-arms fire. The point of origin for the enemy fire was confirmed and marked with a rocket. Aircrews supported the ground forces by conducting strafing runs against the enemy compound. The action was considered successful.

Oct 2: A-10 Thunderbolt II and MQ-1B Predator aircraft were in the vicinity of Tarin Kowt providing armed overwatch for friendly ground forces when the unit received enemy small-arms fire. The point of origin for the enemy fire was confirmed and shows of force were made with flares expended. An enemy weapon was located and destroyed by a missile strike that triggered a major secondary explosion. The actions were considered successful.

In the vicinity of Nad E Ali, A-10s were providing armed overwatch for friendly ground forces when the forces came under enemy small-arms fire. The ground forces returned fire and aircrews supported the ground forces by conducting strafing runs against the enemy position, ending the enemy fire.

A-10 aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces in the Kandahar area. The A-10s were tasked to support a friendly forces patrol in an area that had earlier been subjected to an IED attack. As the patrol approached, shows of force were performed to deter any potential enemy action. The shows of force were successful.

Oct 3: A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were overhead at Chahar Bagh providing armed overwatch for a friendly forces' convoy. A show of force was provided in the area of potentially threatening personnel. The convoy arrived safely at its destination.

Oct 4: Near Chahar Bah, an A-10 Thunderbolt II was providing armed overwatch for friendly forces. The A-10 was requested to perform a show of force for the friendly forces to deter enemy small-arms fire from a known enemy site that had launched attacks earlier in the day. The show of force was successful in deterring potential enemy action.

Oct 5: Near Musa Qaleh, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets were providing overwatch for a friendly forces patrol. When the patrol reported taking enemy small-arms fire from a confirmed enemy compound position, a show of force was conducted. When the enemy fire started again, a precision-guided munition was released, destroying the compound. Numerous strafing runs of cannon fire also were made that terminated all enemy action.

In the vicinity of Herat, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10s were providing armed overwatch for coalition forces. When enemy personnel engaged the coalition forces, shows of force were conducted. When the enemy action continued confirmed coordinates for the target were identified. Precision-guided munitions were deployed eliminating the threat.

Oct 6: A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were providing armed overwatch for friendly ground forces at Oruzgan when the unit took small-arms fire. The point of origin for the enemy fire was confirmed and a show of force was made with flares expended. The action was considered successful.

Oct 7: A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-15E Strike Eagle and MQ-1B Predator aircraft in Afghanistan provided overwatch for friendly forces in the Asmar area. When the friendly forces reported small-arms fire from a confirmed enemy position, shows of force were conducted. When enemy fire started again, precision guided munitions and a rocket were released and strafing runs were made to destroy the position.

A-10 aircraft were in the vicinity of Balocan providing armed overwatch for friendly forces when the friendly forces reported receiving indiscriminate enemy fire, a rocket was fired. No further action was noted.

Oct 8: In Tirgari, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. A show of force was requested to deter enemy action when friendly forces reported receiving enemy small-arms fire. The show of force did not deter the enemy so several precision-guided munitions were released on the confirmed target destroying it and eliminating the threat.

A-10 aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces in the Farah area. The A-10s were tasked with surveillance of the area surrounding friendly forces for suspicious activity. A show of force was performed with flares expended to deter potential enemy action when enemy movement was spotted. The show of force was successful.

Oct 10: F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and MQ-9A Reapers flew armed overwatch in the Orguzgan area. Friendly forces reported receiving fire from several anti-Afghan forces positions and requested air power assistance to deter the enemy action. Multiple targets were confirmed. The aircraft deployed numerous precision-guided munitions and made several strafing runs, destroying the targets and ending the attacks.

Oct 11: A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were in the vicinity of Chahar Bagh and Musa Qala providing armed overwatch for friendly ground forces. A show of force was requested as the enemy prepared to launch an attack. The point of origin for the pending attack was confirmed and a show of force, with flares expended, was conducted that ended the threat. Later, enemy forces fired on a second friendly ground patrol. Another show of force was successfully performed, also stopping that attack.

At Oruzgan, A-10s were providing overwatch for a friendly forces convoy. As the convoy entered a canyon a show of force was requested to deter any enemy action. The show of force was successful.

Oct 12: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the Chahar Bagh area. Friendly forces reported receiving sporadic fire from anti-Afghan forces and requested air support to deter the enemy action. When target coordinates were confirmed, the aircraft made a show of force ending the attack.

In the vicinity of Badikheil, friendly forces came under enemy small-arms fire. The friendly forces requested A-10 air support to deter the enemy aggression. The aircraft made several strafing runs of cannon fire on the enemy position and then destroyed it with a precision-guided munition.

A-10 aircraft over Surkhabad provided overwatch and reconnaissance for suspicious activity in the area. Anti-Afghan forces were seen on foot with a large weapon and other enemy forces were seen gathering with weapons by a tree line. The aircrews were tasked to engage the enemy forces and eliminate the threat with strafing runs. The cannon fire successfully destroyed the enemy positions.

Oct 15: In the vicinity of Sheykhabad, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. A show of force was requested and successfully deterred potential enemy action in the area.

Oct 16: Near Lashkar Gah, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft provided overwatch for friendly forces. Threatening enemy action was anticipated from a vehicle transporting enemy personnel. A rocket was fired at the vehicle followed by three strafing runs of cannon fire destroying the threat.

A-10 aircraft were in the vicinity of Gereshk providing armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrew were instructed to search for possible enemy forces massing for attack when the friendly forces reported receiving enemy fire. The point of origin was confirmed and a strafing run was completed, destroying the position and dispersing the remainder of the enemy forces.

Oct 17: Near Surkhabad, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided overwatch for friendly forces. When suspicious activity and an enemy troop buildup at a known enemy position were observed, a show of force was requested. The show of force, with flares expended, was successful in deterring potential enemy action.

In the vicinity of Chahar Bagh and Remak, A-10 and F-15E aircraft were providing armed overwatch for friendly forces. Shows of force were requested to deter enemy action against the friendly forces when enemy movement was observed in the areas. The shows of force were successful in achieving the desired results.

Oct 18: A-10 Thunderbolt II and B-1B Lancer aircraft provided overwatch for a friendly forces' convoy in Morghab. The convoy was hit numerous times by enemy small arms fire. When rocket-propelled grenade fire caused the lead vehicle to roll, shows of force were requested to support rescue efforts. The shows of force were successfully conducted, some with flares expended, causing the enemy to cease fire and allowing the convoy to continue without further incident. (In an error, this mission was associated to combat operations in Iraq)

Tarin Kowt saw MQ-9A Reaper, A-10 and B-1B aircraft in the skies providing overwatch for friendly forces that reported receiving enemy fire. Point of origin coordinates were confirmed for the source of the attack. Precision-guided munitions, rockets and strafing runs of cannon fire were employed to successfully destroy the threat.

Oct 19: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs were in the vicinity of Now Zad providing armed overwatch for friendly forces who reported enemy small-arms fire. A request for air power assistance was made and a show of force conducted. The show of force was successful in deterring the enemy attack.

Oct 20: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the Balocan area for a friendly forces convoy. Improvised explosive device emplacers were seen on the convoy trail and immediate action was taken with cannon fire strafing runs. The enemy emplacers were unsuccessful in planting the IED and the convoy passed by with no problems incurred.

Oct 21: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the Konduz area. Friendly forces reported suspicious activity of anti-Afghan forces and requested air power assistance to deter hostile action. Aircrews confirmed coordinates of the enemy positions and released a precision-guided munition toward the targets. The aircraft continued to search for enemy personnel in the vicinity and to provide ongoing surveillance for friendly forces.

In the vicinity of Orguzgan, A-10s were providing armed overwatch for friendly forces. When friendly forces started receiving accurate enemy sniper fire, the coordinates for the point of origin were passed to the aircraft and a precision-guided munition and cannon fire strafing run were employed on the position and the threat eliminated. A show of force, with flares released, was then conducted to continue deterrence of any enemy action.

Oct 22: At Sangin, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs were providing armed escort for a friendly forces convoy returning to base. An improvised explosive device was reported to have exploded in the area and the aircraft were tasked with surveillance of the affected area. When possible enemy personnel were seen in the area of the explosion, a show of force was conducted, with flares expended, to push the personnel away from the blast area to allow friendly forces to examine the site. The show of force was deemed successful.

Oct 23: In the vicinity of Gereshk, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were providing reconnaissance for enemy activity and armed overwatch for friendly forces. When enemy movement was observed and the friendly forces came under enemy small-arms fire, a show of force was conducted to deter the enemy action. The show of force did not completely stop the enemy so a strafing run of cannon fire was made that terminated the enemy fire.

Dedicated in Love

This blog is dedicated to Marina Naumann, my latest female partner who died after incurable pancreas cancer on June 17, 2010, just only a half year after diagnosis. Marina was the second true wife in my life, and she always supported my long-year enthusiastic research work on the Hog, especially since the beginning of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Rest in peace, Marina.